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THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Two
Purely
Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMNOVITZ
`THE GANG'S ALL HERE . .
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N. Y.—It
was a great experience to listen in on
the debates conducted preliminary to the
selection of the United Nations' corn-
mittee which is to study the Palestinian
problem. The first few sessions of both
the General Assembly and the Gen-
eral Committee were extremely painful
to the Jewish observers. The manner
in which the Arab states ganged up on
the Zionists, their attempt to befuddle
the issue by giving the impression that
there is a difference between the Ju-
daism which they have treated so well
(sic!) throughout the centuries and the
Zionsm which they charge with having
made inroads upon the peace of the
Middle East and their demands for an
end to the "invasion" of Jews grated
on the nerves.
As usual, after such onslaughts, calm
review of the events that transpired
compel a return to the view that such
outbursts of passion are temporary, that
if we believe that justice must triumph
we must have faith that misrepresenta-
tion of fact will be repudiated, that bom-
bastic oratory does not necessarily lead
to permanent international decision.
Since Israel spells Eternity, it is in-
conceivable that Jews should be swayed
into a position of despair and disillusion-
ment by temporary setbacks. The eter-
nity of our survival: is much more posi-
tive in nature than the combination of
forces which rejects Jewish aspirations
in Palestine. Thus, the debates which,
for a few passing moments, caused con-
sternation I soon will be among the mat-
ters of the forgotten past, while the con-
structive fortes will reassemble their
supporters to continue the creative pro-
grams of nation building.
• • •
Place for the Displaced
An Editorial in Christian Science Monitor
"When the country was new it might have been good policy to admit
foreigners. But it is so no longer."
These words were spoken on the floor of Congress—in 1797. Within and
without Congress today there is similar opposition to any adjustment of the
immigration laws that would allow the United States to admit a fair share
of the displaced persons of Europe to her shores.
One of the most frequently heard objections is the present housing
shortage in the United States. We should like to point out that each DP
admitted is sponsored by an" individualor agency legally responsible for
his care. The great_majority would go into the homes of relatives or country-
men already here.
There are 150,000 DPs under the age of 17, and 70,000 of these are under
six years,of age. President 'Truman has urged that the large number of war
orphans among them be given priority. They would not add to the - .housing
problem.
Furthermore, some 177,000 of the DPs are farm-hands; some 20,000 are
housemaids, and more would undoubtedly be willing to serve as such.
There are acute shortages of workers in both these classes in the United
States today. And employers would be glad to provide housing.
The fears of 1797 have been proved wholly irrational. Let us bring the
fears of 1947 into the open—and dispose of them. _
Heard in
The Lobbies
By ARNOLD LEVIN
(Copyright. 1947, Independent Jewish
Press Service. Inc.)
FROM FLUSHING MEADOWS
Behind the international-intriguenal -
scene:
President Aranha reminds one of the
Italian-American labor leader Luigi An-
tonini in his manner . . . that's where
the analogy ends. There have been some
strange rulings by the Chair. All Arab
harrangues have been ruled out of order
after they had been delivered. An Arab
would talk for. 10 minutes, counter the
rules of procedure, at a session which
eliminates moral issues by referring to
rules of procedure, and only after the
Arabs had attacked Jewry, intimidated
the Jews and brow-beat them, did the
chairman rule him out of order.
One of the most verbose speakers in the
cause of Democracy was Dr. Fadhil Ja-
mali, of Iraq, a Hitler-moustached, arro-
gant and smug little man, who got his
schooling in Democracy during a visit to
Germany in 1938 when he was feted by
Nazi big-wigs. He then adopted, for Iraq,
the Nazi educational methods and helped
create the atmosphere which facilitated
the Gailani pro-Axis revolt, Jamali, how-
ever, talked too much ag ► d talked himself
out of the graces of the Assembly. There
would be an almost perceptable sigh
whenever he would walk to the rostrum.
One could almost hear the delegates' uni-
form thought "That man is here again!"
The Egyptian delegate, although out-
wardly presentable, also talked too
much and too intensely. And it was not
the intensity of a man convinced of his
cause, but rather of an obstructionist.
The one Arab who really made an im-
pression was the soft-spoken, grayish,
short and rotund Syrian delegate Faris el
Khoury. He is not striking in appearance.
but he has decided charm.
The Egyptian's conceit ,and cynicism
was evident when he walked into one of
the sessions in a checkered golf jacket,
Gromyko delivered his statements in a
slow (shmoos-like) Russian monotone.
but he repeatedly corrected the English
°translator by substituting what he re-
garded were more correct words. Per-
haps he changed his mind on details be-
tween his Russian statement and the
English translation. He certainly is a
master of circumlocution, offering ten
varities of definitions for a definition
which is vague to begin with. The Egyp-
tian followed his cue, by that I mean
he tried. to imitate Gromyko, correcting
the English translations of a statement he
delivered in French. But the imitation
boomeranged. The Egyptian confessed
that he had no notes before him, was
not certain that he had not said what
the translator translated in his name, but
he felt that it was not likely that he
had said it in just that way.
WORDS, WORDS, WORDS!
The oratory of the United Nations' as-
sembly will go down on record as mir-
roring the minds of "statesmen" who, in
many instances, merely are overgrown
debaters. The constant repetition of
words, the boring manner in which
some views are expressed ad nauseam,
give the impression that the great men
,who dominate nations are so frequently
dominated by indecisiveness that they
postpone action on basic ideas with
plays on words. "Pilpul" is the term used
for it in Hebrew.
Adelphi and Ph ilomathic debating
circles 'would never concede to their
members the liberties which interna-
tional diplomats possess in world as-
semblies. But then, youth discuision
groups strive not to countenance repeti-
tions and unnecessary plays on words.
But in international affairs statesmen
find it necessary, more often than not,
unfortunately, to veil their indecisions
in rhetoric. You learn the truth of this
fast at world assemblies.
• • •
RISING SENSE OF JUSTICE
As the General Assembly sessions
gathered momentum, it became evident
that governments with traditions for jus-
tice have not lost their sense of balance.
Thus, China, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador,
Honduras, Poland and Sweden have in-
dicated a desire to offer the Jewish
people an opportunity to defend its posi-
tion. Apparently the ganging up of the
Arab states boomeranged—to a degree.
The spokesman for the United States—
Mr. Herschel V. Johnson—put it well in
his opposition to the inclusion in the
agenda of the Arab demand for the ter-
mination of the mandate and the es-
tablishment of an independent (Arab)
Palestine state, when he stated that
"only the Arabs who came here unified
to argue their viewpoint" are prepared to
debate the issue before its consideration
by the proposed UN Palestine committee.
•
•
•
‘IIEFHER' IN JEWISH RANKS
There is a Jewish term—"Hefker"—an
almost untranslatable woad the closest
meaning of which is "irresponsibility"—
which best describes the anomalous posi- that they are the Hebrews who alone
tion of divided ' Israel at Flushing can represent Palestinians. The so-called
Meadows.
"progressive" Zionist district definitely
Several 4Jewish groups were assigned has broken discipline of the Zionist
the unofficial status of sharing a single Organization of America i1i its assump-
office—Room 286. They are: "Jewish tion to ask for independent status to
Council," the term apparently adopted appear before the UN. -
The spectacle of Jewish divisiveness is
by the Jewish Agency press department
in the absence of Jewish Agency leaders humiliating, disgusting and very sadden-
who refuse to make an 'appearance until ing. There is irony in all these conflict-
given official status; Peter Bergson's ing- groups having been assigned the same
Hebrew Committee for National Libera- room as "headquarters." The Jewish
tion; American Council for Judaism and Agency thus, indirectly, is placed in a
humiliating position. Perhaps it will be
PruTessive Zionist District 95 of N. Y.
Bergson's "liberators" and Lessing corrected through international recogni:-
Rosenwald's "Judoists" follow an identi- tion of its position as the only spokesman
cal line. They ("contend that the Jews are with the ability and the right to speak
represented by spokesmen for countries for the Zionists who are the numerically
they Itailiroin...The..13eprgagnitts.maintain ....9.vgxwheixing element in, Jgwzy....„
tiw
Friday, May 9, 1947
Between
You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1947, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
UNITED NATIONS
The proceedings at the present session
of the United Nations demonstrate again
how a small minority can sometimes
dominate a huge majority .. The five -
Arab countries, during the first Week of
the session, spoke more often than all
the other fifty member states together
. Stenographic records show that more
than 60 percent of all the time consumed
in speeches, was taken up by =the Arabs
. There were sessions which made many
observers think that the Arabs were fili-
bustering ... And sometimes the session
took on the appearance of an Arab par-
liament. . . The annoyance ' displayed
openly by Dr. Aranha, president of the
Assembly, who first politely and later
less politely asked practically all the
Arabs to speak more briefly and to the
point, did not remedy the situation . .
The Arabs had apparently made up their
minds to utilize the United Nations as a
vehicle for publicity and propaganda • . .
In this respect the United Nations is per-
forming a negative rather than a positive
By PHINEAS J. BIRON
function .. . By becoming a world plat-
(Copyright. 1947, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate)
form for the Arabs and at the same time
FLASH!!!
suppressing the voice of the Jews. the
Is it true that Senator Bilbo has pre- United Nations definitely served the Arab
pared a statement "repenting" his anti- cause . . . This despite the fact that it
Semitsm and is seeking to make a deal voted down the Arab proposal . . . The
to end opposition to his resuming his truth is that the Arabs never expected
their proposal to be accepted . . . They
seat on Capitol Hill?
• • •
presented it only as an excuse for lengthy
debates and monopolization of the trib-
POT POURRI
Dr. Henry Doubilet, one of the top une for their propaganda purpose.
•
• •
surgeons in the U. S. and one who takes
an intelligent interest in communal EYES ON DELEGATES
affairs, is also an inventor of surgical
Although the delegates of the United
instruments . . . Yes, notwithstanding States and the USSR spoke very little,
his French name, Henry is one of our they provoked the greatest interest . . .
It was felt that the United States to a
people.
Sy Kenen, major domo of the Ameri- very great extent holds the key to the
can Jewish Conference, is now giving present session, and the interest aroused
his full time to the political work of the by the USSR was due to the fact that the
ZOA .. . The AJC will find it hard to official Soviet attitude on Palestine has
not been heard since the USSR became
replace him.
Maurice Samuel's "The Web of Luci- a great power . .. There was not much
fer" is holding its own on the best seller in the statement of the U. S. delegate at
the steering committee to satisfy the
list.
Dr. Albert Einstein, a violinist who's Jews . . . The feeling prevailed that if
made- a name for himself in physics, at- the State Department wanted to. a way
tended a lecture the other day on "Ex- could have been found to grant the Jew-
pression and Symbol in the Italian Mad- ish Agency's request for representation at
rigal" . . . The lecturer was a musician the Assembly, without a vote . . . This
who knows next to nothing about physics feeling may have had no legal justifica-
.. . Also named Albert Einstein . . . The tion. but it existed nevertheless . . . And
the American delegation was highly em-
two Einsteins are old friends.
• • •
barrassed because of it ... American of-
ficials were trying their best, especially
PERSONALIA
Now that the areas of disagreement in the press lobby, to change this feel-
between Rabbi Silver and Dr. Weiz- ing . . . This embarrassment led to the
mann are growing larger every day it is U. S. delegation's later change of atti-
interesting to remember that it was tude—insisting that the Jewish Agency
Weizmann who brought Silver back to be heard by the Political Committee .. .
Incidentally, some of the important mem-
Zionist leadership.
Dr. Albert Enstein (the one who knows bers of the American delegation believe
something about physics) is quietly pre- that Zionist lobbying in Washington was
paring a scientific treatise that will make partially responsible for Britain's failure
plenty of noise in the applause of his to act on the recommendations of the An-
colleagues—a follow up on his theory of glo-American Inquiry Committee on Pal-
estine . . . They indicate that the reason
relativity.., '
The other day Pierre van Passen was that the United States was mute on the
sworn in as an American citizen . . . section of the committee's report rec-
Judge Rivkin who happened to be pass- ommending that Palestine be neither a
ing on his application said in court: Jewish nor an Arab state was due to
"This country honors itself by adding you strong Zionist influence . . . And they
claim that had this Dart of the report
to its citizenry." And so it is.
• • •
been accepted by Washington, Britain
would have had a hard time refusing to
"OUR" RACISTS .
This isn't a nice story . . . We tell it carry out all the recommendations.
*
here because we believe that, like the
"Black Book" of Nazi atrocities, it drags UN SIDELIGHTS
Old-timers who attended the sessions
into the spotlight a hideous thing which
must be seen to be dealt with . . . In a of the League of Nations could not help
poll taken by "Actor's Cues", New York comparing the atmosphere which pre-
producers voted 75% against the Mar- vailed there on the occasions when the
cus Heiman discrimination policy prac- Palestine question was discussed with
ticed in Washington's National Theater the atmosphere which prevails at Flush-
. . . The Heiman position is: "that the ing Meadows . . . In Geneva, at the
admission of Negroes to The. National League sessions, hardly an. Arab was ,
Theater would be- harmful to business seen, even in the lobbies . . . Here the
and distasteful to the clientele." . Only Arabs are everywhere and have become
twa producers supported this doctrine the center of attraction . . . In Geneva it
of racism . .. Their "brothers" in Euro- was taken for granted that Jewish immi-
pean DP camps will want to know who gration to Palestine was part and parcel
they are . . . Arthur Klein and Bernard. of the Palestine Mandate. . . Here, one
S. Straus are the names of "due racists. heard speeches from the UN rostrum rid-
• * «
iculing the mandate as an "illegal" docu-
BROADWAY GOSSIP
ment and speaking of Jewish immigration
Charlie Chaplin is studying the idea as "Jewish invasion," without even be-
of writing, producing and playing in a ing called to order by the chairman .. .
film dealing with the tragedy of the In Geneva the protagonists of the Arabs
were rather cautious when they spoke ...
Jewish refugee.
Judy Holliday, of the "Born Yester- Here the delegate from India, boasting
day" cast, may accept a. Hollywood offer. of his friendship . with the Aiab dele-
Laura Hobson, author of "Gentleman's gates, was aggressiv-e and even lectured
Agreement," is looking for a house in the chair on rules of procedure . Inci-
dentally, he. annarently did not realize
Westport, Conn.
Arthur Miller, of "FocQs" and "All 'My how active thnlicanas and thousands of
Jews
in the 17P"-ed S+- tes are in sup-
Sons" has a bit-part in the 4-star pie
"Boomerang." .- . He was writing the porting
fight for independence
All My Sons7 script at,Jus Connecticut ... And it was lir! *ho hammered on the
home when the fihn - was "on location" point that only Jews from Palestine be
there, and they shoved him into a police entitled to talk on l' ..lestine, thus sniping
color._
•4 1) the Jewish,Agenc/.
Strictly
Confidential